And then the sound was headed back down the road we had hiked up – and it was gone.

We stood tense, guns drawn, safety off, and breathing air slowly and quietly for a few more minutes – before making a move.

Frank’s best guess was that the bear had been in a tree, hiding from us, and a branch had broken, which made the crash sound, followed by the startled bear (which usually move much more quietly) rushing through the leaves and tall weeds was the rustling we heard as he tried to get as far away from us as possible. The coyotes didn’t want to be near a bear, which is why they didn’t follow us to the top of the hill.

Black bear are nothing to trifle with. They don’t usually attack humans, but a frightened bear, a hungry bear, or a bear protecting it’s young will make quick work of man.

Frank and I then had to make our way back down the mountain – we had decided that the hunt was off – and we were going to make as much noise as possible – so that the bear would keep his distance, as we followed his path back out of the woods.